Once again we want to say ”Thank you” for your business and support in 2011. For over 30 years we have been providing safety equipment, services, and solutions for many companies in the Midwest. This would not be possible without you, our valued customer.

Have a safe Fourth of July!!!!! GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!

Fourth of July Firework Safety Tips
Using consumer fireworks on our nation's birthday is as traditional as cookouts and parades. And it is equally safe if a few common sense rules are followed, says Dr. John Steinberg, a member of the Board of Directors of the National Council on Fireworks Safety. But he notes, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were an estimated 5,900 fireworks-related injuries during the Fourth of July season in 2009.

These injuries would not have occurred if there had been close adult supervision and if some basic safety steps had been taken. The National Council on Fireworks Safety offers these common sense fireworks tips in the hopes that injuries to consumers can be greatly reduced this season:

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Parents and caretakers should always closely supervise teens if they are using fireworks.

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Parents should not allow young children to handle or use fireworks.

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Fireworks should only be used outdoors.

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Always have water ready if you are shooting fireworks.

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Know your fireworks. Read the caution label before igniting.

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Obey local laws. If fireworks are not legal where you live, do not use them.

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Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Save your alcohol for after the show.

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Wear safety glasses whenever using fireworks.

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Never relight a "dud" firework. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.

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Soak spent fireworks with water before placing them in an outdoor garbage can.

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Avoid using homemade fireworks or illegal explosives: They can kill you.

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Report illegal explosives, like M-80s and quarter sticks, to the fire or police department.

The National Council on Fireworks Safety urges Americans to follow common sense safety rules this Fourth of July in their holiday celebrations.

Our 2010-11 virtual catalog is now available for view 24/7 online at www.daystarsafety.net where you can also request our new 2011-12 free printed catalog for your facilities.

Our salesperson for Central and Southern Missouri, Cary Blaise, is no longer employed by Day Star Corporation. Please send you orders to sales@daystarsafety.com or contact Mark Calvert at 800-227-0787 x120 if you have any questions or require any additional information.

Day Star Online Safety Training is Now Available

We have the solution for the small employer without safety resources or for the employee who missed their initial safety training.

It is as easy as 1-2-3. Choose your course, create a profile, provide billing information, and verify your confirmation.

Most of the OSHA courses offered are 1-4 hours in length and start at just $20.00. The courses pertain to Construction, General Industry, OSHA 10/30 Hour Outreach, and Hazardous Waste. Some of the Construction courses are also available in Spanish.

We provide qualitative and quantitative respirator fit testing on-site or at our location. We also rent the TSI Portacount fit tester and necessary adaptors. Medical evaluation and respirator training is also available as needed. Contact us for more information or to set up an appointment.

REGULATION NEWS & INFORMATION

OSHA initiates national emphasis program to protect workers from chemical and physical hazards in the primary metals industries
OSHA issued a new directive establishing a National Emphasis Program (NEP) for the Primary Metals Industries. The purpose of this NEP is to identify and reduce or eliminate worker exposures to harmful chemical and physical hazards in primary metals industries that extract and refine metals. Among these establishments are those that manufacture nails, insulated wires and cables, steel piping, and copper and aluminum products. Workers exposed to various substances found in these industries can suffer damage to the eyes, nose, throat and skin and can experience difficulty breathing and chest and joint pain. Overexposures can also lead to death.

The goals of the NEP include minimizing or eliminating exposure to chemical hazards and physical hazards such as noise and heat. See the news release for more information on this NEP. For more information on the hazards of various metals and solutions to control exposures, visit OSHA's Safety and Health Topics and Publications pages on Toxic Metals.

OSHA announces three-month enforcement phase-in for residential construction fall protection
OSHA announced June 9 a three-month enforcement phase-in period to allow residential construction employers to come into compliance with the agency's new directive to provide residential construction workers with fall protection. During the phase-in period June 16-September 15, if an employer is in full compliance with the old directive (STD 03-00-001), OSHA will not issue citations, but will instead issue a hazard alert letter informing the employer of the feasible methods that can be used to comply with OSHA's fall protection standard or implement a written fall protection plan. If the employer's practices do not meet the requirements set in the old directive, OSHA will issue appropriate citations. If an employer fails to implement the fall protection measures outlined in a hazard alert letter, and OSHA finds violations involving the same hazards during a subsequent inspection of one of the employer's workplaces, the Area Office will issue appropriate citations.

The goal of this strategic partnership is to prevent occupational fatalities, injuries and illnesses at participating Ford Motor Co. and ACH locations in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri and New York. The safety agreement covers 25 Ford facilities and three ACH facilities. In the last decade, participating facilities reduced occupational injuries and illness by 74 percent and reduced the days workers must take off to recover from incidents by 88 percent. See the news release for more information.

Web page provides information to protect workers during and after tornados
OSHA has created a new Web page to help workers and employers prepare for a tornado and protect themselves after a tornado occurs. Tornado Preparedness and Response offers guidance on creating shelter-in-place and personnel accountability plans, developing supply kits and monitoring warning signs. Visitors to the page will also find information on precautions to take in the aftermath of a tornado, as well as OSHA QuickCards and Fact Sheets for the hazards most common in tornado-impacted areas.

What I Hate About OSHA by Jim White
Almost everywhere I go, people talk about how OSHA screws up their work, slows them down and makes life miserable. I rarely hear someone say, "Man, OSHA is really doing a great job." Here are seven of the most common complaints I hear when teaching safety classes.

1. They come onto my site and it's private property. I own this building and land, so I should be able to tell OSHA they can't come in. According to a 1973 Supreme Court ruling (Marshall v. Barlow's Inc.), you can do so, if you want. In that case, it was ruled that private property used as a business is subject to the same protection as any other private property. I wouldn't advise it, though. If the OSHA Field Safety Compliance Officer is not allowed access, he can then get a search warrant and have it served by U.S. marshals. That could ruin your day.

2. OSHA tells me I now have to pay for all my employees' PPE. What's that about? They have to buy their own tools, so they should pay for PPE, right? Not really. OSHA found that in many cases, employees purchased PPE that was ineffective or just incorrect. It's pretty sad when OSHA has to bring out a final rule telling employers they have to supply the PPE required for a job (11/15/2007). In 2008, 5,214 workers died on the job. Who was looking out for them?

3. Speaking of PPE, we never had that junk when I was in the field, and we did just fine. Did I just hear, "We've always done it that way?" Or maybe it was, "Real men don't need that crap." Think about this: Prior to 1970, there were about half as many workers in the United States as there are today, and there were 14,300 job-related deaths. Today, with a workforce more than twice as large, fewer than 5,000 workers are killed on the job in a year. Comparing relative rates (1970 vs 2008) there are about 82 percent fewer fatalities now than in 1970. That sounds pretty good, unless you consider that 5,214 workers were given capital punishment for the crime of going to work. Doesn't sound so good, does it? Maybe the good old days weren't so good.

4. OSHA writes citations that cost me money. How am I supposed to stay in business? Short answer: Maybe you shouldn't be in business if you can't protect your workers. Long answer: OSHA will reduce the fines for citations based on several factors:

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Number of employees

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No citations within five years

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Good-faith efforts

Be aware that OSHA is moving forward with the Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP), which affects the size of the fine for 23 different regulations involving fall hazards and other hazards identified by OSHA. The SVEP will allow OSHA to cite each violation, instead of grouping them. It also allows OSHA to reduce the size of any fine reductions it would normally give. Lastly on this topic, OSHA is raising the dollar amount for its citations. Serious violations will be subject to fines up to $12,000, and willful citations can be as high as $250,000! Now, that dog has some real teeth!

5. How am I supposed to understand this gibberish OSHA calls regulations? It's true that OSHA's regulations are written in "broad, regulatory, non-prescriptive language," as one of my OSHA buddies says. I do believe that is the definition Webster's gives for the word "vague." That being said, there are several resources to help. OSHA will come to your site, perform an audit, and not cite you for its findings. You will have to correct those problems within a certain abatement period, but now you will know exactly what needs to be done. They also can set you up with a larger company that will mentor you. If you are the bookish type, there are dozens of books dealing with OSHA regulations, not to mention training that is offered by outside providers. The NFPA 70E standard is an excellent source of information if you're trying to decipher the OSHA regulations. The regulations are somewhat vague, but 70E provides guidance on how to meet the OSHA electrical regulations.

6. Following OSHA regulations slows me down. They certainly will. Performing a task in a safe manner will always take more time than going at it unsafely. You have to plan and prepare, assemble what is needed, and then follow your plan -- that all takes time. In the electrical trade we had a saying: "There are old electricians and there are fast electricians, but there are no old, fast electricians." I think that covers the need for speed.

7. I don't have the time to study all those regulations or even the 70E. I'm trying to run my business. Time, they say, is of the essence. Isn't it worth some of your valuable time to learn how to protect your employees? Isn't it worth some of your employees' time to learn how to protect themselves? Item number 5 also would apply to this complaint, as the solutions would be similar. It amazes me how workers in this country (not all, but the majority) feel it is someone else's responsibility to keep them safe. Unfortunately, our society has moved to one that refuses to acknowledge responsibility for mis-actions. Everyone, give a big hand to our legal system, which has managed to twist logic to where we no longer have to admit we screwed up.

Safety is serious business. Lives and quality of life depend on a safe work environment, as well as safe work practices. The employer is responsible to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards (recognized being recognized by the industry and OSHA). This would include developing an Electrical Safety Program, procedures, policies to protect workers, and providing PPE. Workers must implement those, however. I recently heard of the workers at one facility going to their union (and the union supported them) to prevent the implementation of a company's ESP. I don't know all of the details, but it certainly sounds like wrong-headed thinking.

Think about this: Being killed is one thing. It's over and done with. Being maimed or crippled is an entirely different level. Now, for the rest of your life, every day, you have to deal with the consequences of the accident. One keynote speaker at the 2007 IEEE/IAS/Electrical Safety Workshop was an ex-lineman who had been severely injured in an accident. He said, "No matter how much money you get from the insurance company or the lawsuit, it doesn't make your life better. You take what's left of your life, and you make the most of it." He lost both of his legs and an arm. I'll just take his word for it, thank you.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Travis Johnson with Capital Electric Line Builders currently has a Site Safety Position open in Wichita Kansas. The position is for a Site Safety Coordinator for a 16-18 month project in Wichita Kansas. The project itself is a 50 miles of 345Kv Transmission Line. If anyone is interested in applying for the position please contact me by phone numbers listed below or email me at tjohnson@capitalelectric.com

SAFETY ADMINISTRATOR – VANCE BROTHERS Job Description • Required: Bachelor’s Degree in Safety / Safety Management with an overall GPA of at least 3.2 • Reports to the Safety Director • Position and office will be located at the corporate headquarters in Kansas City, MO, but some travel will be required • Ability to speak Spanish is not required, but would be a definite plus • Certification in CPR, First-Aid, & AED is not required, but would also be a plus • Implements the company safety program • Works with personnel throughout the organization to maintain a safe and healthy work environment. • Monitors the facility and processes for adherence to OSHA guidelines and the elimination of industrial accidents • Conducts incident investigations of employee accidents and near-misses including determination of root causes and action plans to prevent future similar incidents • Case management of various Workers Compensation cases • Conducts safety and health audits both in-house and on construction sites • Conducts annual OSHA required safety training of employees • Carries out inspections of various safety equipment • Involved in developing safety programs and policies for the corporation • Orders and dispenses personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as other safety equipment Interested candidates should apply by sending resumes by fax to: (816)922-8061. Resumes can also be attached to an email and sent to the following address: vbjobs@vancebrothers.com.

APAC - Missouri & Kansas City is looking for a Specialist to assist their EHS Department in reviewing a site in Springfield, MO for process safety issues (OSHA 1910.119) as well as the development of a site specific LOTO and Confined Space program. Have you worked in the Process Safety field previously? Do you have experience with oil and liquid asphalt terminals?
If you are interested in this opportunity or know someone which might be interested, please contact: Christopher R. Schwedtmann, CSP, Operations Manager, EHS/HR Services, APAC-Missouri & Kansas City, 573-489-5444.

TRAINING & EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

CAOHC Certification/Recertification Course

Day Star will be offering the CAOHC 20-hour certification and the 8-hour recertification course on July 26th-28th, 2011 or those individuals performing audiometric testing. For more information or to register you may call 800-747-1401 or go online to www.daystarsafety.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Construction Safety Group of Kansas City's 17th Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament - Friday, September 9th, 2011 - Winterstone Golf Course - Independence, Mo. - To register or become a sponsor, call Phil Shoemaker at 816-595-4158. A benefit for students majoring in Safety at the University of Central Missouri.

This year our Safety Fore Kids Golf classic will be held September 26th at Deer Creek Golf Club. It is a gorgeous course located at 7000 W 133rd St, Overland Park, Kansas. Each team will be paired up with a major league baseball legend - past players have included Jeff Montgomery, Brian McRae, Kevin Seitzer, Kevin Appier, Willie Aikens and many more. For those of you who love golf, baseball and helping children this is a good time to put together a team. They can come out, have a fun filled day while supporting a good cause! You will get the best of both worlds, an awesome course to play on and a retired major league player to talk baseball with.
Click here to link to registration.

Safety and Health Council of Western Missouri and Kansas
816-842-5223

SAFETY & HEALTH MEETINGS FOR JULY 2011

Heart of America ASSE Chapter - No meeting until September.

Construction Safety Group of Kansas City - July 6th - 11:30 AM to 1 PM - Manny’s on the Boulevard - Sponsored by OHS Compcare. The speakers will be Melinda Wagner and Dr. William Tiemann, who will be discussing the changes with Kansas Workman's Compensation to include "Prevailing Factors." Reservations are required. To RSVP contact Tom Cowan at 816-985-8619 or tom.cowan@pcg.com.
You may also call the CSG Reservation line at 816-471-0880 x1369.